U.S. patent application number 09/859067 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-17 for foldable keyboard for mobile communications device.
Invention is credited to Finke-Anlauff, Andrea.
Application Number | 20020006815 09/859067 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25329933 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020006815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Finke-Anlauff, Andrea |
January 17, 2002 |
Foldable keyboard for mobile communications device
Abstract
A compact computer devise is provided with a display screen and
a full function keyboard for use as a personal information manager
or similar purpose. The keyboard is constructed in two portions
positioned on opposite sides of the screen of the device to allow
holding with both hands and operation with the thumb.
Inventors: |
Finke-Anlauff, Andrea;
(Braunschweig, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERMAN & GREEN
425 POST ROAD
FAIRFIELD
CT
06430
US
|
Family ID: |
25329933 |
Appl. No.: |
09/859067 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09859067 |
May 16, 2001 |
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09584297 |
May 31, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/575.3 ;
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1677 20130101;
G06F 2200/1614 20130101; H04M 1/0245 20130101; G06F 1/1616
20130101; H04M 1/0214 20130101; H04M 2250/18 20130101; H04M 1/23
20130101; G06F 1/1666 20130101; G06F 1/1671 20130101; G06F 1/169
20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/575 ;
455/566 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An electronic device for operation in multiple applications
comprising: an enclosure having a top cover which provides the
operational surface of the device; a screen constructed at a
central location in said operational surface to provide a visible
display of information to the user, said screen dividing the
operational surface into left and right panels; and a function
keyboard constructed in two portions, a first portion constructed
in said left panel and a second portion constructed in said right
panel, each of said function keyboard portions having an array of
keys consistent with a selected function, wherein said function
keyboard is exposed for operative engagement by the user.
2. An electronic device for operation in multiple applications, as
described in claim 1, wherein said function keyboard comprises a
full function QWERTY key array split in said first and second
portions.
3. A function keyboard for use in a personal computer device, said
computer device having an operational surface and a screen for
displaying information to the user, said screen dividing said
operational surface into left and right panels, said keyboard
comprising: a first array of keys mounted in said left panel; a
second array of keys mounted in said right panel: and wherein said
left and right arrays are positioned to allow operation thereof by
use of thumbs while the device is held in the hands of the
user.
4. A function keyboard for use in a personal computer device, said
computer device having an operational surface and a screen for
displaying information to the user, said screen dividing said
operational surface into left and right panels, said keyboard, as
described in claim 3, wherein said function keyboard comprises a
full function QWERTY key array split in said left and right panels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Mobile telephones and similar communication devices are
rapidly expanding in use and function. Such devices will soon
provide Internet access, personal information management,
facsimile, messaging, in addition to telephone communication. To
accomplish this there is a need to provide keyboards compatible
with the more complex applications to which the mobile device will
be adapted. Full function keyboards, such as the standard QWERTY
typing array of keys and buttons, are difficult to provide while
maintaining the compact size required in the mobile device. Such
devices on the market today are cumbersome and often require a
separate belt pouch for carrying the mobile device on the person of
the user. In addition it is necessary to coordinate on screen
displays for adaptation to the variety of functions.
[0002] It is a purpose of this invention to provide a simple and
inexpensive means of providing a full function keyboard to
accommodate the burgeoning applications to which a mobile
communication device is adapted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A personal hand held computer appliance is provided with a
compact full function keyboard that allows the user to place the
unit in the palm of his or her hands and operate the keys on the
keyboard with the thumbs. To accomplish this the appliance is
constructed as a flat generally rectangular unit having a top
operational surface. A display screen is centrally positioned in
the operational surface to divide the surface into a left and right
panel. The left and right panels are used to accommodate the
keyboard. Each panel is constructed with an array of keys, which,
in the case of a standard Qwerty style keyboard, are arranged on
either side of the screen to provide a full keyboard. The keyboard
is accordingly split into two substantially equal arrays displaced
on either side of the screen. The size of the appliance is
sufficient to allow convenient spacing of the keys while
maintaining accessibility for operation by the thumbs of the
user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0004] The invention is described in more detail below with
reference to the attached drawing in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top view of the communications device of this
invention in the closed position;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top view of the communications device of this
invention in the open position;
[0007] FIG. 3a is a side view of the communications device of this
invention in the closed position;
[0008] FIG. 3b is a schematic illustration of the display
orientation in the closed position;
[0009] FIG. 3c is a schematic illustration of the display
orientation in the open position;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system of a
communication device as it applies to this invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of this
invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of this
invention; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] A mobile communication device is provided with a full
function keyboard. For the purpose of illustration, this invention
will be described with reference to a mobile telephone, but is
applicable to other devices such as pagers, game units and the
like. As shown in FIG. 3a, a mobile telephone 1 is constructed
having a body 2. The body 2 encloses a screen 3 which provides a
display 4 for communicating pertinent information to the user in
response to actions by the user. The mobile telephone 1 is
constructed having two panels 5 and 6 which are mounted on the body
2. In FIG. 3, panel 5 is shown fixed to body 2 as a separated
component, but it could also be constructed integrally with body 2.
Panel 6 is rotatable on the body 2 about an axis x-x as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] In a first position, referred to as the closed position,
panel 6 is rotated into overlapping alignment with panel 5, as
shown in FIG. 3a. Rotating panel 6 has two opposing flat faces 7
and 8. Face 7 is the inner face when panel 6 is in the closed
position and face 8 is the outer face in the closed position. In
the preferred embodiment, face 8 contains a standard telephone
keypad 9 for use when the mobile phone 1 is operating strictly in
the communication mode. In the closed position, the device operates
as a standard operating mobile telephone with the display 4 of
screen 3 oriented in alignment with keypad 9.
[0016] To provide the full function keyboard of the preferred
embodiment of this invention, the key and button array 12, used for
the particular application, is divided in half and arranged on left
and right keyboard portions 10 and 11. To facilitate operation of
the keyboard, it is designed for thumb actuation by both hands.
This makes it convenient to hold the small device in both hands and
operate the keyboard portions 10 and 11 accurately and
efficiently.
[0017] As shown best in FIG. 3a, the left hand keyboard portion 10
is constructed on face 7 of rotating panel 6 on the opposite side
of telephone keypad 9. The right hand keyboard portion 11 is
constructed on upper face 13 of panel 5. A back cover is assembled
on the face 14 of panel 5. To insure a compact engagement of panels
5 and 6 in the closed position, the portions of key array 12 on the
opposing panel faces 7 and 13 are offset to avoid interference in
the closed position.
[0018] To operate the keyboard array 12, panel 6 is rotated
approximately 180.degree. to the open position to form a
substantially flat unit having right and left keyboard portions
separated by screen 3 as shown in FIG. 2. By holding the left and
right hand portions in either hand, the keyboard, thus extended,
can be conveniently operated using thumbs. In the open position,
outer face 8 of panel 6 is oriented away from the user.
[0019] The display 4 of screen 3 is controlled for orientation in
two positions depending on the mode of use. In the closed position,
the display 4 is oriented in alignment with the keypad 9, while in
the open position the display 4 is aligned with the function key
array 12. As shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c, display orientation is
rotated 90.degree. between the mobile telephone mode in which panel
6 is in the closed position to the full function mode when panel 6
is in the open position. This is accomplished by providing a panel
position indicator 15 which signals control unit 16 when the panel
6 is opened or closed. Control unit 16 may be a microprocessor,
display driver or other means including hardware or software. This
could be automatic or by a manual button operated by the user. The
control unit 16 will signal the display control 17 to orient the
position of the display as needed. In addition, in the open
position, keypad 9 will be locked in an inoperative mode by
telephone keypad lock 18.
[0020] In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5, instead of a
keyboard, a game controller keypad is provided. The game keyboard
consists of action buttons 19 and motion pad 20 constructed in
panels 5 and 6 respectively. The telephone keypad 9 is constructed
in the reverse side of panel 6, as described above. As a further
alternative, the device could be designed without a communication
capability and used as a game unit only.
[0021] In this manner, a simple and compact keyboard is provided in
operative association with a mobile communications device. It
should be noted that other key arrays can be used such as the
French AZERTY or the German QWERTZ(U). The device would also be
useful as a microprocessor based game unit driven by game software
or firmware.
[0022] Alternative Embodiment
[0023] The keyboard array described above is also useful without
necessarily associating it with a mobile communications device. For
use as a computer device such as a personal information manager and
the like, the full function Qwerty style keyboard provides
convenient access for small devices and overcomes the awkwardness
of similar devices in the prior art.
[0024] In this embodiment, a device 30 is formed of a thin planar
oriented enclosure 31 which contains a processor and other
components suitable for the purpose for which the device is
designed. The enclosure 31 is formed by the cooperation of a top
plate 32 which provides the operating surface of the device and a
back cover 33 which defines the remaining bottom and side walls of
the enclosure. A display screen 34 is mounted in the top plate 32
in a centrally located position. A standard Qwerty keyboard is
divided into left and right portions 35 and 36, as shown in FIG. 6
and 7. The portions 35 and 36 are positioned on either side of the
display screen 34 on the top plate 32. Each portion contains an
array of keys 37 positioned in the familiar arrangement. Other
types of keyboards can be used which are adapted to the particular
purpose or application of the device 30. By holding the left and
right hand portions in either hand, the keyboard can be
conveniently operated using thumbs. The full function keyboard
arranged as described herein provides a convenient and efficient
utility for all of the keys without significant interference.
* * * * *